LENIN. ---- LETTERS TO A. SHLYAPNIKOV.

either pedagogical-literary work for Nadya (since her illness requires prolonged life in the mountains, and that costs a lot).

I shake your hand firmly and wish you all the best.
Nadya sends her regards.
Yours, V. Ulyanova

1) Above the date in Vladimir Ilyich's handwriting is written the sender's address:
Ulianow. Kurhaus Tschudiwiese Flums (Kt. St.-Gallen) Schweiz.
The right half of the postcard (space for the recipient's address) is filled in Vladimir Ilyich's handwriting with the following text:
Fru Alexandra Kol-
lontay.
Turisthotel,
Holmenkollen, Kristiania - Norwegen.

2) A.S.L.P.— American Socialist Labour Party — American Socialist Labour Party, which leaned toward internationalism.

3) P.S.Ü. — Polish Social-Democracy.

---

My dear friend!

It seems that Belenin's decision regarding his "walk" has already been made, judging by the letter that Grigory forwarded to me today. And the timeframe is very short! And yet we must correspond and coordinate with him most urgently: this matter is now incredibly important. Therefore I earnestly ask you to take all measures so that you personally meet with Belenin, convey to him everything that follows, and do so frankly and thoroughly, and also write to me (without fail!) how things stand — that is, whether there are disagreements, divergences, etc. between us and Belenin and what they are (and how to eliminate them, if they exist), or whether there are none.

The removal of James (I urgently ask you not to say a single word about this removal to anyone abroad. You cannot imagine how dangerous foreign chatter on these matters is in all respects, and in connection with such events) — the removal of James makes the situation critical and puts once again on the agenda the question of a general plan of work 2).

In my conviction, this plan consists, first, of a theoretical line; second, of the most immediate tactical tasks; and third, of directly organizational matters.

(1) On the first point, what is now on the agenda is not only the continuation of the line that we have consolidated (against tsarism, etc.) in resolutions and a pamphlet (this line has been remarkably confirmed by events, the split in England, etc.), but also a cleansing of it from ripened absurdities and confusion — the rejection of democracy belongs here: this includes disarmament, the rejection of self-determination, theoretically incorrect rejection "in general" of the defense of the fatherland, wavering on the question of the role and significance of the state in general, etc. 3).

It is extremely regrettable if Belenin does not wait for my article in reply to Kievsky (it was only sent for copying yesterday and will be ready only in a few days) 4). What is to be done? Do not neglect theoretical briefing: truly, it is necessary for work in such difficult times. Think over whether the following (or a similar) plan cannot be realized: I conjecture that Belenin's wife is not in America, as I thought, but in Spain 5), through which Belenin will now also travel. Cannot correspondence and the transmission of manuscripts to his wife in Spain be arranged? Then, perhaps, even my article, sent a week hence, would reach Belenin in time, since he will surely spend several days in Spain.

Think it over: aside from this specific case, regular correspondence with Belenin's wife and with Spain in general is extremely important. Spain is an extremely important point now, because it is still more convenient to work against England there than in other places.

I cannot expand further on theoretical briefing. The enemies have already seized upon the foolish rejection of the significance of democracy (Potresov in No. 1 of "Delo"). Bazarov has become foolish in "Letopis'" 6). Bogdanov carries on one stupidity, but the same stupidity in "Letopis'" 7). There is some extremely suspicious bloc of Machists and Okhists there. A vile bloc! It is scarcely possible to smash it... Unless one tries a bloc with the Machists against the Okhists? It is scarcely likely to succeed!! Gorky is always extremely characterless in politics and surrenders to feeling and mood.

The legal press in Russia is acquiring paramount importance, and therefore the question of the correct line acquires ever greater importance, because on this field it is easier for our enemies to "bombard" us.

It would probably be best if Belenin could have a "base" in Spain, receive our letters and manuscripts there, continue the briefing, exchange letters, Belenin could return there soon after a short journey further (because the danger is very great and for the cause it would be far more useful if Belenin made short-term trips to several cities and then returned to Spain or to where he is now, or to a neighboring country to consolidate connections, etc.).

LENINIST COLLECTION.

On the second point. The main thing, I think, is now the publication of popular leaflets and proclamations against tsarism. Discuss whether it cannot be arranged in Spain? If not, we will prepare them here and send them; for this, the most scrupulously precise connections for transport are necessary. You were completely right that the Japanese turned out to be absolutely unsuitable. Foreigners are best of all, those with whom we could also correspond in English or another foreign language. I will not expand on transport, since you yourself see and know. The trouble is there is no money, but they should raise it in Petersburg.

The main party question in Russia was and remains the question of "unity." Trotsky in 500-600 issues of his newspaper never finished thinking through and never completed: unity with Chkheidze, Skobelev 8) and Co.? or not? It seems that "unificationists" remained even in Petersburg, although they are very weak (are they not the ones who published "Rabochie Vedomosti" in Petersburg?). "Makar" 9), it is said, is in Moscow and also preaches compromise. Compromisism and unificationism is the most harmful thing for the workers' party in Russia, not only idiocy, but ruin of the party. For in fact "unification" (or compromise, etc.) with Chkheidze and Skobelev (they are the crux, since they pose as "internationalists") — is "unity" with the Okhists, and through them with Potresov and Co., that is, in fact lackeying before the social-chauvinists. If Trotsky and Co. did not understand this, so much the worse for them. No. 1 of "Delo" and — most importantly — the participation of workers in military-industrial committees — demonstrate that this is so.

Not only in elections to the Duma the day after peace, — but on all questions of party practice in general, "unity" with Chkheidze and Co. is the crux now. We can rely only on those who have understood all the deception of the idea of unity and all the necessity of a split with this brotherhood (with Chkheidze and Co.) in Russia. Belenin should rally only such people for the role of leaders.

By the way: the split on an international scale has also ripened. I consider it entirely timely now that all the conscious-guiding workers of Russia understand this and pass resolutions in favor of an organizational break with the II International, with the International Bureau of Guesde, Vandervelde and Co., — in favor of building the 3rd International only against the Kautskyites of all countries (Chkheidze and Co., like Martov with Axelrod, = Russian Kautskyites), only in rapprochement with people standing on the position of the Zimmerwald Left.

On the 3rd point. The sorest spot now: the weakness of connections between us and the guiding workers in Russia!! No correspondence at all!! No one except James, and now he is gone too!! This cannot go on. Neither the publication of leaflets, nor transport, nor briefing on proclamations, nor the sending of their drafts, etc., etc., cannot be organized without proper conspiratorial correspondence. This is the crux!

This was not done (he could not then, perhaps) by Belenin on his first trip. Persuade him, for Christ's sake, that this must be done on the 2nd trip! Must be!! One must measure the immediate success of the trip by the number of connections, truly!! (Of course, Belenin's personal influence is even more important, but he will not be able to stay anywhere for long without ruining himself and harming the cause.) The success of the trip is measured by the number of connections in each city!!

Two or three connections, minimum, in each city with guiding workers, that is, so that they themselves write, themselves master conspiratorial correspondence (it is not the gods who fire pots), themselves prepare for themselves each one or two "successors" in case of exposure. Do not entrust this to the intelligentsia alone. Do not entrust it. This the guiding workers can and must do. Without this it is impossible to establish continuity and integrity of work, and that is the main thing.

I think that is all?

Regarding legal literature I will add further: it is important to clarify whether they will publish my articles in "Letopis'" (if the Okhists cannot be driven out with the help of a bloc with the Machists)? with restrictions? what kind?

It is necessary to clarify in more detail regarding "Volna" 10).

As for myself personally, I will say that I need earnings, otherwise I will starve outright, truly!! The devilish dearness, and nothing to live on. I must forcibly extract money (Belenin will speak about money with Katya and with Gorky himself, of course, if it will not be inconvenient) from the publisher of "Letopis'," to whom I have sent two of my pamphlets (let him pay; right away and more!). The same — with Bonch 12). The same — regarding translations. If this is not arranged, then I, truly, will not last, this is quite serious, quite, quite.

I shake your hand firmly, a thousand best wishes to Belenin, and dash off at least two words about receipt right away.

Yours, Lenin

P.S. Write frankly, in what mood is Bukharin leaving? will he write to us or not? will he fulfill requests or not? correspondence is possible only through Norway (with America): tell him this and arrange it 13).

[Postscript by N. K. Krupskaya.]

My dear friend, I am sending you today a book that you requested (for Nikolai Ivanovich), and I very much ask you to inform us without delay of its receipt and communicate your opinion of it.

Please visit Kobetsky, otherwise Nikolai Ivanovich will leave — we will have absolutely no connections with Denmark.

Also send all the connections you have with America and with the Swedes and Norwegians.

Do this without fail. Of course Belenin cannot leave without waiting for the book, but he will not have to wait, since I am sending it today.

I shake your hand firmly. Nadezhda Krupskaya.

---

*) The date in the manuscript was apparently entered by the recipient.

2) The removal of James — the arrest of A. I. Elizarova in Petrograd.

3) See note 5 to No. 33.

4) The reference is to Vladimir Ilyich's article "On a Caricature of Marxism and Imperialist Economism," written by him in reply to an article on the national question by Comrade Pyatakov. Vladimir Ilyich's article was first published only in 1924 in the journal "Zvezda" and in Volume XIII of the Collected Works of Vladimir Ilyich.

5) In fact, it was not Spain but Norway that was being discussed. The name of the country was changed for reasons of secrecy.

6) "Letopis'" — a legal journal organized by A. M. Gorky, of an anti-war direction, published from December 1915 to the end of 1917. In his article "The Current Moment and Perspectives" ("Letopis'," May 1916), developing a completely correct idea that Europe can emerge from the war and its economic consequences only through social revolution, V. A. Bazarov indicates that now there can no longer be a division of our program into a maximum and a minimum program, since the time has come to realize the maximum program in life. To these propositions, especially finding fault with a number of unfortunate expressions, replied